Mandeville police cracking down on graffiti vandals

Northshore authorities have cracked down on spray-paint vandals who leave graffiti on businesses from Mandeville to Covington.

“They’re coming into our city, they are trashing our businesses,” said Covington businessman and City Council member Larry Rolling.

Rolling was angry over the graffiti left on the back of his print shop. He suggested vandals should do community work with the city to cover up what they’ve trashed.

“We’ve been experiencing this now for the last, probably, about the last three months,” said Covington Police Chief Richard Palmisano. “It’s picked up considerably.”

Covington police, with the assistance of the neighborhood watch, recently arrested two people in connection with graffiti on downtown buildings: Bryan French, 28, and Katherine Whiteman, 19. Both suspects were charged with criminal damage to property.

“When we did make this arrest recently, we’ve contacted the other agencies and there is a possibility that additional charges may be placed on these individuals from the various agencies,” Palmisano said.

However, the problem is that no matter how often you take out the roller and cover up the graffiti, sooner or later the vandals return.

Mandeville has had similar problems, and police are convinced more than one group is at work.